Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced that the 2012-2014 National Budget will be presented to parliament on July 24.
He has described it as “important for the country.”
The announcement has generated much debate in Dominica on what the main focus of the budget should be.
DNO is asking readers for their opinion in a new poll.
What should the National Budget focus on?
- Agriculture (34%, 241 Votes)
- Health (22%, 154 Votes)
- Manufacturing (19%, 134 Votes)
- Education (16%, 109 Votes)
- Tourism (9%, 61 Votes)
Total Voters: 699
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Boy it’s such a shame to see what The Nature Ilse has come to.
M/V Dominica,have left woodbridge bay.
M/V China,just dock in port.
Go Figure!!That’s what to focus on.
Well this is difficult..
Agriculture, Tourism, and Manufacture are all sectors of the economy where we can generate income and jobs.. The question is which to focus on? I can’t answer that… I kinda believe we should focus on all three. No one industry can do it all for us.
Agriculture and Manufacture can go together where we further process our produce to increase value of our exports. Juices, coffee, what have you. The problem is our size, where as larger countries can benefit from manufacturing on a large scale we would be doing it on a much smaller scale making whatever we process more expensive and less competitive… Maybe we can produce luxury items like organic where price doesn’t seem to matter as much. It’s all the rage now.
Tourism, we want to market Dominica as the Nature Island but I don’t think we are ready yet. We think of ourselves as some niche, some exclusive paradise. To me, anytime your product is exclusive you need to advertise, advertise, advertise, strategically so, to the right market. I don’t see us doing that.
Now what are we advertising? Some waterfalls, some hikes, boiling lake, sulphur springs.. I mean it’s nice and all but other people can offer the same thing and much more. We can’t just rely on our rough beauty, no enhancements. It’s like we’re presenting a lump of coal to people as a diamond. On top of that, it’s really hard to get here. We need better hotels, stuff to do that people actually want to do….it’s just so much..
Health and Education are also really important since we need to keep the workforce healthy and educated. If we focus on education though we need to keep them productive in OUR country not in somebody else’s. That’s hard to do if there are no jobs for them.
I think we need to take a look at what we educate our population in. I mean yes, it’s commendable to be a lawyer, doctor, accountant but everyone can’t be in those lines of work.
It’s a vicious cycle really. Not enough productivity in our income generating sectors means no jobs, no jobs mean brain drain.
Okay, I’m done rambling. But my point is that they are all connected and you can’t just focus on one.
Excellent thought
jobs,jobs,jobs.jobs.jobs.jobs.jobs.jobs.jobs
i just read what the admin said about how to create jobs,,,to me it is simple.stop caring about everybody else and start caring about us
Actually, all of them. However, without health we have nothing.
I noted employment was not on the list. I expected that. Business owners are the primary ones to create jobs.
In addition, I hope those who owe the government tax will honor their obligation and pay up. The money will help in implementing certain projects and will also go towards job creation including education.
Anything that create jobs ɪ̣̝̇§ good for M̶̲̥̅̊є̲̣̣̣̥ .
it should focus on creating jobs for people!
All The Above!
i can”t vote be caues i think all of them goes hand in hand non should be put on the back burner
Dno. You need to include job creation. All sectors needs improvement. The people want jobs and a good wage. Unemployment is so high .wages and salaries are so low given the recent hike in food and commodities prices due to increase fuel cost and vat etc. The government need to grow the economy remember economic activity in dominica decline by half a percent last year at a time when the world economy and more so our major trading partners such as the USA is on a rebound. So much passport selling where the investors that buying the passport. What we have is the Chinese taking over and causing a displacement in the workforce. We do not want hand out. We want jobs,jobs yes jobs and more jobs. Should I say it again jobs jobs, and more jobs. If the PM can’t tell me how he going to stimulate the economy and create about 300to 500 new jobs then we the people need to so good bye.
Job creation should be at the top of the list, that’s what Dominicans need the most
JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS
I was only allowed to vote for one, however, I believe that the budget should focus on agriculture, education and tackling the unemployment problem in the country that was not even part of the pole.
This government can make as many pretty buildings as they which to attract tourist, however, if you can’t feed people they will not come.
If you don’t educate the young people properly there will be no one to run this country when their time comes because they will be to foolish and wouldn’t know how to spell country much less for government.
If you don’t make provisions to employ people, especially young people then you will have hell to pay in due time.
At present this is how things are in this country sad to say where you have young children going to high school without know how to spell their own names, young persons so frustrated because they’re not working and no one hiring. Agriculture in Dominica is a situ of more harvesters than actual farmers so no wonder a hand of green bananas with six will sell for $2 and 5 plantain will sell for $5.
This country needs a walk up call and if things continue the way their going right now, we won’t have a country to give a budget on.
Just my opinion… Please don’t bit my head off…
Enough respect DNO but isn’t it a bit late for that poll now since the budget has already been set in concrete?
Manufacture!?? Why is that getting so many votes what the hell does Dominica have to manufacture!?.,..seeing that education hasn’t gotten enough votes, clearly yal don’t know what manufacture means!
Princess!!!!!….U must calm down, this is a democratic vote just for DNO, the PM haS already made up his mind.
I am also surprise that agriculture is high, since the young are not interested and no one has a plan or strategy to state what should be profitably grown, where and to whom (export market).
The Pm should encourage the chinese in bringing some manufacturing activities to DA
simply, creating jobs for the people of this country.
Admin: Everybody understands that but the question is what should be done to create jobs?
Admin. Are you sure that everyone understand that we need jobs. Some will tell you that we are fine and the economy is very good. The point is Admin what ever sector the government focuses on its policies should focus on economic growth and should I say sustainable growth and development. Is only when the economy grows job will be created. Now Admin you just said that the question is what should the government do to create job. If I select one of the options will that answer the question. I don’t think so. So get real Admin and send the message to the government that we the people want jobs let the government tell us how they intend to solve that problem after all that’s why we voted them into power. Yes we put them there to allocate our scare resources to satisfy the needs of the nation. Look how our communities is being destroy with drugs. The people want work and good pay or else drugs and crime will takeover our nation. By the way Admin I eh finish with you. I refer you all to the ECCB website to look at the debt numbers publish at December 31 2012. Please compare those numbers with the recent publication of the accountant general. Do some real research and write some good articles that could help educate people like me. I will save my job creation plan till after the budget. Since nobody that goes against Labour make sense. I will wait and see.
WHATEVER it takes to create jobs! Manufacturing, service industries, health care, agriculture etc. etc. Don’t just focus on one thing. We did that with bananas and see where it got us.
the budget should be a little of each but mainly education nd agriculture to assist young people with jobs this country is jobless cost of living is too high no money so less job opportunities
IT SHOULD BE DIFFERENT….It should focus on removing this lazy and incompetent gang of leaders from office. Never before have the people of Dominica been so poor, while the greedy ones are living like kings.
The problem in Dominica is POOR Leadership.
No number of ideas or money will not make a difference. The people need to be motivated and energized to get the job done.
Where Are The Jobs?
Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are the likely areas that can create jobs, but not until there’s fiscal responsibility, transparency and good governance.
The current administration has demonstrated that it’s incapable of creating jobs in any of the above areas after three terms in office. Go ask the graduates, take the pulse and judge.
More importantly for the PM is , Where is the strategy and plan for the foreseeable future. PMK u are the driver, where is your road map so I can decide whether to get off or stay on. In the meantime I will buy my own car and devise a route that suit me. DA people need to be incentivise and motivated to join you (PM) on your quest
While Education is very important, the past five years we have focussed a lot on Education and it should not be neglected but I would put a lot of emphasis in order of priority Agriculture, Manufacturing and Health. It’s unfortunate the poll allows only one area, which is not fair because a budget should be multi-faceted, one area has to compliment the other.
Education is very important, but it the very educated ones leaving oversees and commenting on DNO. A contract should be signed with would-be university candidates which are government-sponsored such that upon graduating they should return unless some experience can be gained before returning which will be more beneficial for DA. Work need to be found for these people otherwise the incentive overseas will always be appealing.
Job creation
The budget should focus on the sectors which can create jobs.
I do not believe that a focus can be placed on any one. It is like someone asking you which to leave you with, your head, heart or lungs. All need to be healthy to stay alive.
Why is there only one selectable option? I believe the focus of a budget should be multi-facetd
couldnt agree more
Totally agree
So I cast a vote for agriculture and this did not even show up. Health is clearly an area that needs heavy investment but if we are talking about a sector that can generate economic growth for the majority of Dominicans, agriculture all the way. There is no way any other sector including manufacturing or tourism is going to prove viable in the absence of agriculture.
Ok, don’t know what is wrong with this, but I am now seeing agriculture and as expected it has the lead
dno where exactly to vote nuh
ADMIN: The choices for voting is under the story.
Are you serious? I was going to vote on Agriculture, but I changed my mind. I think we need to educate our citizens then focus on agriculture.